“There’s a certain amount that they did restore, but it’s a far cry from really making a dent in this hole,” Pallotta said after his speech. “I think it came out to about 13 percent restorations, and when they’re that big, it just isn’t enough.”

Aren’t we done, though, I asked. This is the legislative counter-proposal, so aren’t they supposed to aim high and reach an eventual settlement?

“We’re never done. Hear what they’re saying – ‘fight, fight fight’? We’ll never give up. I think that the legislators really want to restore funds to their districts and to higher ed. They really need some courage from folks right this and say what they believe,” he said. “I think, maybe, we can impress upon the Republicans in the Senate to reinstate the millionaires tax. I think that’s a place to go for funding. Also the tax on high-end clothing. That would be a way to go.”

The Assembly included a modified form of a tax on higher income in its budget, extending the current surcharge on New Yorkers earning over $200,000 beyond its expiration in December, but including only millionaires, as its name implies.

The Alliance for Quality Education, which NYSUT along with others has funded, took a similar tack to Pallotta. Here’s a statement from its executive director, Bill Easton:

“The Governor proposed record budget cuts for our school children, the Assembly and the Senate would restore a fraction of the cuts—about 15%,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education. “While they have taken a step in the right direction, they both need to do more for our school kids. The Assembly and Senate restorations are paid for from different funding sources clearly, it the Senate drops its plan to cut taxes for millionaires the legislature can push up the school aid restorations. That needs to happen because $1.2 to $1.3 billion in cuts to our school kids is simply far too damaging.”